Posted on 07/07/2008 5:34:36 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
A year ago today Japanese troops, engaged in night manoeuvres near Marco Polo Bridge, west of Peiping, alleged they had been fired on and launched an attack that has sent contending armies tramping over more than a third of China ever since.
Premier Konoye of Japan charges the war was forced on his country by the anti-Japanism of younger Chinese officers. Today, though Japan has sent a million men to the mainland, has heavily strained her economic resources and has already had to fight twice as long as she expected, Tokyo is celebrating and determined to fight on.
Equally determined is a China that has been battered in the field but has become unified as never before. Her leader, Chiang Kai-shek, says his country, struggling for its existence, will not be conquered. Yesterday he appealed to the Japanese people to “rise up to stop the madness of their militarists.” This morning the anniversary was marked in Shanghai by terrorist killings and bombings.
The general reviewed brutalities of the Japanese Army in China and dwelt on the tremendous material and moral losses for the Japanese people that the war entailed. Saying that China would carry on the war until Japanese militarists ceased their aggression, General Chiang declared: “The duty of stopping this bloodshed rests exclusively on the shoulders of the Japanese people.”
A message of gratitude for help extended to China by friendly nations also was issued by the Generalissimo. A the same time he urged countries sympathetic to China “to seek with undiminished zeal effective ways and means of manacling the common enemy of international order so that world justice and righteousness may be firmly established.”
He asked the signatories of the League of Nations Covenent, the Kellogg-Briand anti-war pact and the Nine-Power Treaty to carry out their obligations. Reviewing the background and history of the Sino-Japanese struggle, General Chiang emphasized the brutality of Japanese militarists and alluded to the destruction of properties of schools, bombings of open cities, massacres of civilians and attacks on women.
He said other nations should not ignore these things, since “protection of the happiness of mankind and the future of civilization is a common responsibility of all human beings.” General Chiang pledged himself “to continue leading my 450,000,000 countrymen in the prosecution of resistance.”
Hailed as a notable step toward democracy, the opening session of the People’s Political Council was held here yesterday, bringing together nearly 200 representatives of all leading political factions in China, including twenty-eight provinces, five special municipalities, Mongolia and Tibet, to discuss China’s problems and submit proposals to the government.
The heads of foreign diplomatic missions here were special guests on the historic occasion.
Chairman Wang Ching-wei, in the opening address, said the mission of the council was “to solidify and unify the people in order to strengthen the national power of resistance, and lay a firm foundation of democracy so that China can immediately graduate into constitutionalism at the end of the war.” He said the council should not only bring forward suggestions and proposals to the government but also convey from time to time the policy of the government to the people.
Generalissimo Chiang spoke, saying he foresaw the Council’s role as one of increasing the power to resist Japan through greater participation of the people on the struggle. He characterized the inauguration of the Council as a real step toward democracy.
Regular sessions followed during which Premier and Finance Minister H. H. Kung and War Minister Ho Ying-ching made reports. Newspaper men attended the meetings prior to the report by General Ho, when they were excluded on the ground that military secrets would be brought up. Most of the Councilors are members of the Kuomintang (Government party). Seven are Communists.
Many members were appointed by provincial and municipal governments and Kuomintang branches. Others were named by the Mongolian and Tibetan Commission, the Overseas Chinese Commission and the National Defense Council.
The Kuomintang Central Executive Committee approved all the appointees, of whom there are 200. A number were unable to attend the sessions – including Mao Tse-tung, Communist leader. The Council has the right to get reports from the government, question it and submit proposals. All the Council actions are subject to the approval or veto of the National Defense Council.
A “message of gratitude” to the government was adopted at a mass meeting attended by nearly 50,000 at Chungshan Park, inaugurating popular observances here on the first anniversary of the war with Japan. Speeches were heard, and the meeting broke up with lantern parades, in which thousands joined, singing and shouting slogans, despite a drizzling rain last night. Although a “commemoratory” Japanese air raid is expected here, further observances are scheduled for today, including memorial services for the dead. There will be a three-minute period of silence at noon.
Premier Kung issued a statement denouncing the failure of the powers to give China armed assistance.
“So far,” he said, “China has been fighting Japan alone because the other powers and co-signatories of the League covenant, anti-war pact and Nine-Power Treaty have been cowed by Japan’s bluff and threats into becoming onlookers, their arms folded and their consciences salved by more pious hopes, even while their own vital rights, interests and prestige are being seriously jeopardized by the aggressor.”
Mr. Kung remarked that China, despite unusual handicaps and difficulties, had sustained its political entity and its economic and financial structure, had paid loan obligations, maintained exchange stability, prevented a rise in commodity prices, decreased its adverse trade balance, removed industries to the hinterland and expanded its roads and railways. He concluded by saying:
“China wonders whether farsighted statesmen will stop the raging fire of Japan before it spreads to their very homes and whether this generation will declare international moral bankruptcy.”
Domei also says that after a short rest Mr. Quezon will informally visit Premier Fumimaro Konoye and Foreign Minister Kazushiga Ugaki. The latter is expected to entertain Mr. Quezon at his official residence at a party.
Tomorrow, Mr. Quezon is expected to attend a party jointly given by the President of the House of Peers and the President of the House of Representatives. Mr. Quezon is expected to leave Tokyo for Manila on Saturday.
This program has not been confirmed officially but is approximately correct. Mr. Quezon, however, will be acting in an unofficial capacity.
Mr. Quezon insisted today that his visit was purely recreational and informal and that any other interpretation upon it was purely speculative.
The Philippine Independence Law expressly forbids to the Filipinos any direct participation in foreign affairs.
Mr. Quezon is traveling with a group of his close personal friends. The official explanation that he is vacationing for the benefit of his health is generally accepted.
The War Office said this was estimated on the basis of 510,109 bodies left on battlefields. The announcement said 83,000 bodies were found in Nanking and the vicinity during December, or 2,000 more than were said to have been found around Shanghai during fighting there in the previous three months.
Japanese losses were listed at 36,629.
Bush's fault.
Includes four shorties at the end.
Almost forgot. Need coffee.
Japan’s war on China actually started in 1931.
This is an interesting admission by the Japanese. However, the 1937 "Rape of Nanking" actually produced far more dead bodies.
Wang Ching-wei would later defect to the Japanese and head their collaborationist government in China.
Manchuria in ‘31, China in ‘37.
The announcement said 83,000 bodies were found in Nanking
"Produced" vs. "Found." You've really got to parse these government announcements.
The Hankow reportage looks like a PR handout by TV Soong.
Thanks for the ping Homer.
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